Inside a steroid ‘brewing’ and supply operation in South-West England: An ‘ethnographic narrative case study’

Abstract

In looking to contextualize the implications of the increasing use of IPEDs, researchers have explored some of the operations of the market in these drugs, both at the local level, and online. Whilst these explorations have offered some much needed insight into this market, there remain aspects of the supply process that are still not fully understood. This paper offers an ethnographic narrative case study of a single steroid ‘brewing’ and supply operation in South-West England, in order to help contribute to understanding of this supply process, and the broader market for IPEDs. This research explores in turn how ‘drift’ into IPED supply occurs in the local market, how steroid powders are accessed online and imported for the purposes of local supply, the process by which these powders are ‘manufactured’ into injectable steroids locally, and finally the business and customer-oriented practices of the local market suppliers who distribute this finished product, and local market contexts.This paper builds on and supports the existing literature in this area, and contributes to knowledge by helping demystify some of the market operations relating to this level of IPED supply, which will help to inform future policy regarding harms of IPEDs, and regulation.